Cement-block mold.



R.' J. BRATTON.

CEMENT BLOCK MOLD.

APPLIOATION FILED 0012.18. 1909.

974,350. i Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

rmt NoRms Flu-Rs co.. v/AsHINaroN, o. c,

y large number of the blocks may be rapidly ROBERT J'. BRATTON, 0FGEORGETOWN, ILLINOIS.

CEMENT-BLOCK MOLD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 1, 1910.

Application mea october 1s, 1909. serial No. 523,228.

To all whom t't may concern:

Beit known that I, ROBERT J. BRAT'roN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Georgetown, in the county of Vermilion and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Cement-Block Mold, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of concrete blocks and has forits object a method of making the blocks by which a produced by the aidof a single mold without the loss of time due to the mold being leftaround the block until the cement has thoroughly set, as in the methodsheretofore practiced.

l/Vith this object and such other incidental objects as will hereinafterappear in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of theapparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawing and in the method ofusing the same, as will be hereinafter first fully described and thenparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a mold arranged inaccordance with my invention, parts being broken n away. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the mold. Fig. lis a perspective view of the core form.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a pallet 1 upon which a sandretaining frame 2 is placed, the said frame consisting preferably of anopen rectangular frame formed of boards or planks secured together attheir ends, as will be readily understood. I also employ a mold 3 which1s placed upon the pallet within the retaining frame 2 and nearer oneside of the same than the other side, a face plate 4 being placedbetween the retaining frame 2- and the adjacent side of the mold, asshown most clearly in Fig. 2. In the form of the invention illustrated,the mold consists of an open frame, preferably of sheet metal, havingtwo sides and having inset ends 5 rigidly secured to the sides so that ablock shaped within the mold will have its ends and sides at rightangles and will have a central recess in its ends. It is to beunderstood, however, that the exact shape of the mold is not material tothe invention as the mold may be circular so as to be employed in theformation of tiles or any other shape of block may be made, as may bedesired. On the upper edge of the inset portions 6 of the mold I securehandles or loops 7 by means of which the mold may be readily liftedfromA the pallet or lowered onto the same so as to be arranged in itsoperative position. While, of course, solid blocks may be formedaccording to my method, hollow blocks are more generally used and Itherefore provide a core form 8 which, in the illustration, consists ofa rectangular sheet metal box having an open top and bottom and providedat its ends on its upper edge with handles or loops 9 by means of whichit may be readily placed upon or lifted from the pallet.

When it is desired to form a block ac cording to my invention, theretaining frame 2 is placed upon the pallet and the face plate 4 is thenset on edge against the inner face of 'one side of the retaining frame.The mold 3 is then placed upon the pallet within the retaining frame andagainst the face plate after which the space between the mold and theretaining frame is filled with sand. The core is then placed in positioncentrally within the mold and filled with sand, after which thecementitious mixture is poured into the mold so as to ll the same in theusual manner. The core is then lifted from its position leaving thehollow center 0f the cement block filled with sand, after which the moldis likewise removed leaving the block surrounded by sand, the weight ofwhich will carry the cement against the face plate so that the faces ofthe block will have the desired formation. A straight edge or anyconvenient tool is then moved over the retaining frame so as to levelthe upper edge of the cement and the cement is then allowed to set whilethe mold may be used to form other bloc-ks in like manner so that asingle mold may be repeatedly used without any loss of the use of thesame and a large number of blocks may be formed with the use of a singlemold, it being necessary only to have as many pallets and retainingframes as may be conveniently or economically used according to thecapacity of the plant. After the cement has set the block is lifted fromthe sand and slightly shaken whereupon the sand will be freed from thesame and the block will be ready for use.

The handles or loops 7 and 9 are preferably constructed of sheet metalin the form of straps having their ends riveted or otherlation withrespect to each other.

wise secured to the mold and the core respectively so that when thedevice is being shipped or is in use and cement is to be poured into thespace within the mold, the handles may be bent down out of the wayagainst the outer face of the mold and the inner face of the core andmay then be readily raised to the positions illustrated in the drawingswhen it is desired to remove the mold or the core from the pallet.

It is to be noted that the upstanding handles 7 and 9 are disposed inpairs, the constitue-nt members of each of thesepairs being locatedclose together, so that each pair may be grasped by the hand of theoperator,

thus providing for the simultaneous removal of the mold and the corefrom the sand-retaining frame. The handles 7 and 9, as clearly seen inFig. l` are enlarged at their upper ends, and brought into close re-Thus, the handles 7 and 9 serve as a means for preventing the core 8from moving longitudinally within the mold 3. Moreover, the longitudinalrecesses in the ends of the member 3 are adapted to house the handles 7,when the same are downbent, as hereinbefore described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A device of the class described consisting of a mold; a core restingwithin the mold; the mold being provided with a han dle at each end, andthe core being provided with a handle at each end located in closeproximity to the handles of the mold, to define pairs of grippingelements, each of which pairs is adapted to be engaged by a hand of theoperator, for the simultaneous removal of the core and the mold.

2. A device of the class described consisting of a hollow mold; a corelocated within the mold; the core and the mold being provided at theirends, with handles,`havng at their upper ends, enlargements located inclose relation to each other, to constitute a means for limiting themovement of the core within the mold. y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoai'lixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT J. BRATTON.

Witnesses:

C. E. LONG, F. I-IAwon'rH.

